Hydraulically operated land contouring machine



July 16, 1963 o. G. SCHMIDT HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LAND CONTOURINGMACHINE Filed June 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l T y o .5 MW W i 33 -.Q bl

m wrl h July 16, 1963 o. G. SCHMIDT HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LANDCONTOURING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii INVENTOR.OLT'MA/V/V a. JCAM/DT BY m Zfis July 16, 1963 o. G. SCHMIDTHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LAND CONTOURING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 3 MN u E 0v N. ON. 2 N. |||||lll|illllllllilllxr Eu v -m mEv mv. on I Q WV I INVENTOR. 04 77144 #41 6, JC'HM/or 147 29 IVEY July16, 1963 o. G. SCHMIDT- 3,097,440

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INVEN TOR. 0L 7'M4/VA/ vG. Jcz/M/or BY MX" United States Patent3,097,440 HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LAND CUNTOURIN G MACHINE Oltmann GeorgeSchmidt, PA). Box 576, Mcorhead, Minn.

Filed June 9, 1960, Ser. No. 34,938 2 Claims. (Cl. 37-129) Thisinvention relates to a hydraulically operated land contouring machineand it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinationsherein described and claimed.

It is the cardinal object :of the invention to provide a land contouringmachine in the form of a scraper, which is hydraulically operated toperform various operations in land contouring, such as grading, removalor leveling of earth; ditch forming, as well as general hauling of earthfrom place to place as may be required, all of which operations areeffected by a single control mechanism.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide anambulant frame for tilting and rocking the support of a scraper bucket,the wheels of the frame being individually adjustable to raise or lowerthe frame upon either side thereof to vary the angularity of the cuttingand scraping blade of the scraper bucket with respect to the groundsurface, as well as to provide an actuating means for rocking .orrotating the scraper bucket through an arc of 360 degrees to effect ascraper-loading position and to also assume a dumping-leveling position.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will beapparent from the following description, considered in conjunction withth accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a top machine,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof, the scraper bucket being shown innormal position, the operative position for scraping being shown indotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a similar View, but illustrating the scraper bucket in anearth leveling and dumping position.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevation of the scraper, the left wheel having beenraised to tilt the frame and the scraper bucket toward the left side fora ditch contouring operation, and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic plan View of the control means for the bucketand Wheel adjustments.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated anearth scraper generally indicated by the reference character it which asshown comprises a frame 11 having side beams 12 connected by atransverse beam 13 at the rear of the side beams and a similar beam 14at the front end thereof. The frame as well as other parts may bereinforced for strength by the use of suitable gusset plates as foundnecessary. A triangularly shaped draw bar '15 is suitably connected tothe transverse front beam 14 at points adjacent the outer ends of thebeam, the apex of the draw bar being provided with a suitable swivelcoupling 16 for attachment to a tractor. A control unit 17 is alsosuitably mounted upon or adjacent the apex of the draw bar 15, theconstruction and function of which will be explained in further detail.

Extending rearwardly of each side beam 12 there is an ear 18 formounting of respective wheel assemblies 19, and since the assemblies areidentical in construction, a description of one will be ample for anunderstanding of the construction and operation.

The wheel assembly comprises an elongated body memplan view of thescraper contouring ber of substantial structure, one end 21 of which isformed 3,097,440 Patented July 16, 1963 with a suitable right angularlydisposed axle 22 for mounting of a ground engaging wheel 23. Upon thebody at the end opposite the axle 22 a pair of upstanding arms 24 aresuitably secured, as by welding, to opposite sides of the body 20, thearms being approximately at right angles to the body and are providedwith aligned openings 25 for a purpose as will presently appear. Thelower ends of the arms are provided with aligned openings 26 forreception of a bolt 27 when said arms embrace the apertured ears 18 ofthe side beams of the frame for pivotal movement of the wheel assembly19 with respect to the frame.

Thus the wheel assembly 19 is mounted for vertical movements withrespect to the terrain upon which the scraper is being worked and inorder to obtain separate and individual adjustment of the wheelassemblies a single acting hydraulic cylinder is employed for the wheelassemblies, which cylinders are indicated at 23 and 28', each includinga piston rod 29, the outer end of which is disposed between the arms 24and pivotally mounted upon a bolt 30 extended through aligned openings25 of the arms. The cylinders 28 and 28' at the end opposite that of therods 29 are pivotally connected to a respective bracket 31 as at 32which are suitably mounted upon the side frame beams 12. The cylinder 28is provided with a fluid inlet line 33 operatively connected to a fluidcontrol valve 34; while cylinder 28' is similarly connected to a controlvalve 35 by means of a fluid line 36. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to thevalves 34 and 35 by means of respective fluid lines 37 and 33 which areconnected to a main fluid line 39 from a pump 4% having a suction line41 opeiratively connected to a fluid reservoir 42 (see FIG. 7). I

For an understanding of the construction and mounting of the scraperbucket, attention is directed to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 particularly. Aheavily constructed bearing housing 43 is mounted upon each side beam 12of the frame, arranged in parallel aligned relation to receive a shaft44 carried by respective end walls 45 of the scraper bucket generallyindicated at B. The bearing housings 43 are formed with an uprightextension 46 for a purpose presently to be explained. The shaft 44 is ofa length to project a substantial distance outwardly of the bearinghousing for mounting of a gear 47 which is suitably keyed or otherwisesecured to the shaft. A rack bar 48 is positioned upon the upperperiphery of the gear 47 and the teeth of the gear and rack bar are heldin meshed engagement by means of a roller 49 which is rotatablysupported upon a bearing pin 50 carried by the extension 46 of thebearing housing, the roller 49 being retained against lateral movementupon the pin by means of a plate 51 connected between the shaft 44 andpin 50.

It will be understood that both shafts 44 embody the above constructionand that the rack bars 48 may be 0perated simultaneously by means ofrespective piston rods 52 of hydraulic cylinders 53 mounted in brackets54 adjacent to or at the front cross beam 14 of the frame and extend atan upward angle with respect to the frame to properly engage the gear47.

As best seen in FIGURE 7, the cylinders 53 have a common fluid line 55and an interposed line 55', the latter leading to a port 56 of a controlvalve 57. The valve 57 also has a port 58 which at times hascommunication with the fluid line 39 from the pump 40, and from the port58 fluid passes through a fluid line 59 to respective cylinders 53, thepressure exerted upon the pistons 52' causing the piston rod 52 and rackbar 48 to rotate the gear 47 with corresponding rotation of the scraperbucket B, from the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2 to the loadcarrying position shown in solid lines, the valve 57 then being operatedto maintain pressure on the piston for retention of the scraper bucketin the latter position. After the load carried by the scraper bucket hasbeen discharged and it is desired to level the material, the valve 57 isagain operated to further advance the rack bar 48 causing the scraperbucket to partake of a rotating movement to present the leveling blade60 so as to contact the material to be leveled under movement of themachine. In order to return the scraper bucket to a normal position, itis only necessary to adjust the valve 57 so that the port 58 is closedand the port 56 opened so that fluid in the cylinders may return to thefluid reservoir 42 by way of the fluid lines 55 and 55, which return ofthe fluid is effected by the pressure created by the weight of thescraper bucket.

The leveling and scraper blades 60 and 61 are preferably two edged andare reversible upon removal, so that a sharp working edge may at alltimes be available.

In various grading and leveling operations, it is desirable that thescraper bucket B assume angular relations with respect to the surfacebeing worked, as indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. This position ofthe scraper bucket was attained by adjusting the valve 34 (see FIG. 7)so that fluid pressure in cylinder 28 may feed back to the reservoir 42and due to the pivotal connection between the frame and wheel assemblyand weight thereof, as Well as the swivel connection 16 at the front ofthe frame, the frame and cutting blade will assume the desiredinclinati'on, which of course is determined by the amount of fluidpressure retained in the cylinder 28. The cylinder 28 is likewiseoperable through the valve 35; and it will be obvious that the cylinders28 and 28' may be simultaneously operated to raise or lower the framewith respect to the ground surface.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the scraper bucket B may berota-ted by virtue of the gear and rack to a full 360 degrees which willpermit the bucket to assume a proper position for scraping and cutting,whether the scraper is moving either forwardly or rearwardly and thatthe position of the scraper bucket, as well as the level and anglethereof may be quickly and easily obtained due to the knee-actionprovided in the wheel assemblies and the pivotal movement of the frameas a whole.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, thisis by way of illustration only, and

4 I consider as my own, all such modifications in construction, asfairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a land contouring machine, the combination of a frame having aswivel connector means at one end thereof and positioned in thelongitudinal medial axis of the frame to establish a draft engagementwith a tractor or the like and permitting horizontal pivotal movement ofsaid frame, a hingedly connected ground engaging wheel mounted atrespective sides of said frame at the end opposite said swivel connectormeans providing pivotal movement of said frame, said means includingcylinders for stabilizing the hingedly connected ground engaging wheels,opposed aligned bearing means mounted on said frame, a scraper bucketpositioned within said frame and having an axle member journalled ineach bearing member, a gear fixed to each axle, a rack bar in meshedengagement with each gear, a hydraulic unit operatively connected toeach rack bar and a control means connected to said hydraulic units foractuating said rack bars.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said bearing members including anupright extension and an opposed spaced plate member, a shaft securedbetween said extension and said plate member for rotatable support of aroller for contacting engagement upon the upper side of said rack bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS904,062 Hamill Nov. 17, 1908 1,826,931 Harrison Oct. 13, 1931 1,916,864Maloon July 4, 1933 1,982,219 McAlister NOV. 27, 1934 2,025,285 Hunteret al Dec, 24 9 5 2,051,283 Austin Aug. 18, 1936 2,078,501 Maloon Apr.27, 1937 2,449,269 Austin Sept. 14, 1948 2,554,698 Evans May 29, 19512,582,032 Harmon et al Jan. 8, 1952 2,662,312 Kadz Dec. 15, 19532,941,318 Beck June 21, 1960

1. IN A LAND CONTOURING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME HAVING ASWIVEL CONNECTOR MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF AND POSITIONED IN THELONGITUDINAL MEDIAL AXIS OF THE FRAME TO ESTABLISH A DRAFT ENGAGEMENTWITH A TRACTOR OR THE LIKE AND PERMITTING HORIZONTAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OFSAID FRAME, A HINGEDLY CONNECTED GROUND ENGAGING WHEEL MOUNTED ATRESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID FRAME AT THE END OPPOSITE SAID SWIVEL CONNECTORMEANS PROVIDING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME, SAID MEANS INCLUDINGCYLINDERS FOR STABLIZING THE HINGEDLY CONNECTED GROUND ENGAGING WHEELS,OPPOSED ALIGNED BEARING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A SPRACER BUCKETPOSITIONED WITHIN SAID FRAME AND HAVING AN AXLE MEMBER JOURNALLED INEACH BEARING MEMBER, A GEAR FIXED TO EACH AXLE, A RACK BAR IN MESHEDENGAGEMENT WITH EACH GEAR, A HYDRAULIC UNIT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TOEACH RACK BAR AND A CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HYDRAULIC UNITS FORACTUATING SAID RACK BARS.